Rhythms of a Roving Mind'Beats' of the Bouncing Brain Summarized[adapted from Carla's workshop materials]

(Ex.SSB3)

.

You may have noticed the small wavy lines under
the bell curve of attention in Exhibit SSB1.
In my spectrum model, these waves represent a metaphorical "brain beat" designed
to depict the range of styles in different kinds of roving minds, from the exciteable
distractibility of the underfocused Type 1 to the sometimes relentless persistence of the
hyperfocused Type 3, as compared to the "modulating" mind without an attention
difficulty.

Below a bit more detail about each type:

The Modulated MindWithout attention difficulties

The
Right Stuff at the Right TimeA "modulated" mind without attention difficulties can power
attention up and down at will to suit the task at hand, then detach and switch when it is
time. Thought patterns move with an even cyclic rhythm most of the time in the modulated
mind, while those with an attention difficulty experience more irregularity and/or more
intensity, as illustrated below.

The Beat of a
Bumble BeeBuzzing Fast, Hard to Catch
The underfocused Type 1 has a great deal of "bounce" in the attentional signal
but has trouble boosting the focusing power to keep the signal strong and thinking clear.
There may be a sense of mental "static" or "buzz," as symbolized by
the lack of clear attentional space above the line.

Type 1: Roving Subtypes(hypofocus)

1.1underarousedRambling Ranger

1.2overarousedGambler-Rebel

1.3 hyperarousedDaredevil-Outlaw

AD Type 2: Restless

The Beat of a ButterflyFluttering Off & On, Weak & StrongThis "mixed focus" type is able to focus quite intensely and sustain it
if aroused, but can't power it up enough to do so consistently. The Type 2 struggles both
to hold focus as long as needed and shut it off when its time, working in fits and starts,
peaks, valleys and sprints, alternating between over and underthinking.

Restless Subtypes(mixed [dipolar] focus)

2.1underaroused
Distractible Dreamer

2.2overarousedCompulsive Creator

2.3hyperarousedInconsistent Perfectionist

AD Type 3: Relentless

The Beat of a HummingbirdRush & Roar of Racing WingsThe third style of inattention is the opposite of the first. Instead of
working to turn focus on, the "hyperfocused" Type 3 works to tune it down, not
just once in awhile, but almost all of the time. Overflowing with racing thoughts and
volatile feelings, people with this type of difficulty report that the feeling of static
or "buzz" can appear here again to disrupt clear thinking.

Relentless Subtypes(hyperfocus)

2.1underaroused
Boundary Bender

2.2overarousedRevolutionary-Martyr

2.3hyperarousedKamikaze

Excerpted from the workshop Surviving Sane with a
Bouncing Brain:
Dancing in Time to the Beat of Your Mind, by Carla (Nelson) Berg, copyright below

Copyright 1995, 1996, 1997,
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